Flying machine



W. BROWN Sept. 15, 1925.

FLYING MACHINE Filed Oct. 6, 1 2 s Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTOR I ATTORNZY Sept. 15, 1925.

W. BROWN FLYING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Flled Oct. 6, 1923 IN VEN TOR l u R l l a l|ll lg BY fi f1 TTOREEEY cabins, above the disk mem r 10, are two Patented Sept. 153 1925.

; UNITED STATES PATE'NT"OFFICE.

WILLIAM BIB-OWN, OF NEW YOBK,'N. Y.

FLYING IAGHIN Application filed October 6,1923. Serial No. 866,888.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known-that I, Wnmu BROWN, 9.

' citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flying Ma-.

chines, of which the. following is a specification. I

This invention relates to'flying machines,

having more particular reference to a flying machine of the helicopter class, in WhlCll a rotary element of the turbine type exerts a downward suction of air to cause the ma.- chine to rise, the inventionhaving foria general object the provision of a novel flying machine of this type.

For further comprehension of the invention, and' of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

Fig. 1 of the drawings is a fragmentary horizontal, sectional view of my improved flying machine, this view being taken on the line 11 ofFig. 2. y

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view thereof, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, the rotary element being shown in-a different position than in Fig. 1.

detail horizontal; sectional view Fig. 3 is a of the automatic valve control element Fig. '4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View, taken approximatey along the same line as Fig. ments for the annular explosion chambers.

Fig. 5 is "a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a side view of thecomplete ma cabinwhile the other may-be used for any desired purpose. Extendin between these 2, .and showing the control ele ical sectional ,viewpreventing overheating of the e wall elements 13\.which enclose a space 13' for thepassengers. The machine is mounted on suitable wheels 14.

Extending vertically through thespace 13' is'a well 16 through which air is drawn downward to sustam the machine-by the downward suction. Located in this well is a double flap valve comprising two' hinged leaves 17 pivoted as at 17 on a common axis ona crossbar 18 in the well and connected by links 19 with a screw 20' threaded through a grooved pulley-nut 20 mounted for rotation, butheld agalnst vertical movement, on rigid post 21 extending concentric of the member '10. Connected to the pulley 20 is a cord- 23 which leads around suitable guide pulleys such as 24 to another pulley I 25 provided with a crank handle 25', this pulley 25 being located near the operators seat 11' in the cabin 11. Looped over the pulley 20 is a second cord 23. which is looped also over a pulley-nut 20 through which is threaded a screw 20 connected to an arm 20" on a flap valve 20 in an exhaust conduit 20' leading rearwardly' from the member 10.

Carried within the member 10 is a rotary element whose rotation induces the suction through the well 16; This element com prises four curved arms 26 extending out-.

ward from central members 26' which freely these arms are-conduits which have their outer ends in the form of nozzles through which gases under pressure are deliveredat an oblique angle on vanes 28 carried by the cylindrical vertical wall of the member 10.

These gases are obtained by the explosion of an air and hydro-carbon mixture, a pair of annular explosion chambers 30- being provided and fixed to the said arms 26, these explosion chambers being of circular cross section. Pipes32 which form the conduits above referred to lead from the res ective chambers through. the {arms 26 an have their outer ends in close proximity to the vanes 28. Air under pressure and" gasoline, are introduced' into the explosion surround the post 21. 'Extending through chambers 30 and the mixture is then lgnited as usual by an electric spark, water in small uantities being introduced into the ex 10- s1on chambers after the explosion has ta en place, the water increasing the efliciency of the gases by the generation of steam and also chambers. The compressed 'air'is de ivered to the explosion chambers through pipes 48 losion trically disposed wristpin element 14,v

formed on the post 21. The air is conducted to the cylinders through branched pipes 46 in which are suitable checkvalves 47, and is discharged therefrom through the pipes 48 to which lead branches 418' having checkvalves 49 therein. From each of these pipes 48 (see Fig. 4) branches 50 in which are checkvalves 51 lead' to the respective explosion chambers 30 and the air is adapted to be admitted in alternation to the said chambers, the admission of air being controlled by a sleeve valve 52 in the pipe having an opening 53 in the side thereof adapted to alternately register with the branches 50. The sleeve valve is adapted to receive longitudinal reciprocatory motion from a rod 5-1- connected thereto at one. end and having at its opposite end a pivoted section 54' provided with a head 55, adapted to be engaged in spiral grooves 56 formed in adjacent faces of a pair of fixed disks 57 located concentrically with the chambers 30, the grooves in the two disks being respectively right and left hand. Projecting rigidly upward from the rod section 54 is a finger 58 which is adapted to engage the annular shoulders 59 to throw the said section upward and downward to engage the head with the respective spiral grooves 56', the grooves in the two disks may vary in depth from end to end so as to cause the heads 55 as theytravel along the groove in one disk, to be gradually moved toward the other one to facilitate transfer of the head from one grooveto the other. The rod section 5 1 may have sufficient frictional engagement with the main rod length to be held in the position to which it is adjusted. As the rotary element moves, the sleeve valves 52 will be caused to reciprocate. To'start the machine a number of compressed air tanks 60 are employed from which suitable branched pipes 60 lead to the respect? a explosion chambers. These pipes 60 have valves .61 thereon whose handles 61' thereon are operated in a manner to be presently set forth. Pipes 60 may lead from the air compressors 40 to the tanks 60.

Upon the pipes 32 leading from the explosion chambers 30 are valves 62 whose operating handles 63 are adapted to be engaged andmoved to position with the valves open by means of heads 6.4 on a rod 65 fixed to the sleeve 52, springs 66 tending to .keep these valves closed. The exploding of. the charges 'lowsha ft 90 is a mutilated bevelgear done by approadiing the contact elements 67 carried by the rods 54 with other fixed contact elements 68 which are wired to spark plugs or ordinary construction in the respective chambers.

As will be understood a vacuum will be created behind each of the arms 26 as it rotates, and the air is drawn downward through" the well 16 and passes out through openings 70 in the bottom wall of the member 10 adjacent the edge thereof. These openings 70 may be controlled through the medium of sliding plate-valves 71 which are connected to levers 72 fulcrumed between their ends to the said member 10 .as at 73. These levers 72 may be swung to positions varying the extent of opening of theapevtures 70 by means of cords 74. connected thereto. These cords 7 4 are led around suitable pulleys 75 on the periphery. of the member 10 and are then passed inwardly to connect to opposite ends of a weighted element 76 slidable freely in a curved guide 7 7 fixed under the member 10. For longitudinal balance other ropes 74 may lead around suitable pulleys to a second weighted element (not shown) similar to the element and extending transversely thereto.

Other apertures 78 are formed in the top wall of the member 10 and are controlled by valve plates connected to the levers 72 to be operated by the latter. Light tension springs /such as 78 are connected to the cords 7 4 to hold the levers in position with the apertures 7 8 closed and the apertures 70 open. If the 'machine tends to tilt toward one side the weight 76 will shift and the openings 70 on the high side of the machine will be partly closed and those'on the low side opened to greater capacity, a reverse action taking place wth respect to the openings '58. Automatic balancing isthereby effecte To steer and propel my improved flyingmachine I provide a pair of rotary cylinders 82 which control the mouths of conduits 16 leading laterally from the wall 16 these cyl-- inders having formed in the sides thereof the openings 83. In these cylinders are pis-v fected by the steering element "illustrated in I detail in Fig. 7 and which is mounted in the cabin 11. This steerin element comprises an outer hollow shaft 90and an inner-solid shaft 91 suitably supported in. a .i fll'ame" eleon their respeetiveen'ds; f Fixed toitlie ment 92 and having handwheels 'and191' L yvhich is tobe-hrought-yeeieetiy mto with one a: a pa r of bevel. pinions 94 mounted ontransverse shafts 95, 'these shafts having other bevel justing the pistons 86 backward or forward the direction of flow of the air inward through the conduits may be caused to be either backward or forward, causing the machine to be repelled in a forward or backward direction, steering of the machine being effected by individually ad ustmg the shutters 82. i The gasoline is contained in a tank 110 located near the rear of the-machine and flows by gravity through a suitable plpe, through a passage 111 in the post 21 and 1nto a semi-cylindrical chamber 112 partially surrounding the post 21 but fixed to the rotary element, the flow of gasollne only taking place at the time the ports in the post an the chamber wall are in registry. The gaso--" line is fedfrom this chamber to tanks 113 supported by the rotary element by means of a pump 114 which is operated by, a crank shaft 115 rotated by means of meshing gears 116 and 117 fixed. respectively to the said shaft and the post 21. A similar arrangement, comprising a chamber 118 connected to a supply tank 119', and avpump' 119 is provided to introduce small quantities of water into the explosion chambers .at the time of the explosion. The gasoline is delivered from the tanks to the explosion chambers through pipes 120 having valves 121 thereon which are controlled by means operated by the sleeves 52 .as shown in Fig. 4. These pipes 120 have other valves 122 thereon for hand control, these valves having handles 122'. I I

Formed on the cylindrical wall of the member 10 is an inwardly projecting annular flange 125 and from the space below said flange pipes 126 lead to the centre of the machine and conduct the air which is shown by the arms 26 into said space inward to enter the pipes 46. These pipes 126 lead upward at their inner ends into a horizontal partition member 127" in which are flap valves 128.

These valves 128, as well as the'valves '61' and 122 are operated individually by the means shown inFigs. 8 and 9. A number of pairs of curved arms 135 have attached thereto ropes 136 which lead to the valve handles. Connected to these arms are fingers 137 which are attached to opposite reaches of ropes 138 leading around pulleys 139. These ropes connect, for the flap valves 128, to a foot lever 140, and for the other valves to hand levers such as 141 which may be set in position with the valves either open or closed.

As will-be apparent, the arrangementof control means for the air above set forth permits the full power of the engine to be utilized for lifting, or for propulsion.

This machine may be provided with a number of parachutes suitably located thereon, and which may be opened in the event of accident. t

Having thus described my invention what I claim as' new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. In a flying machine a hollow disk-like member, having air intake and outlet-openings, vanes'on the circumferential Wall of said member, a rotary element therein having a pair of arms projecting close to said vanes, said arms being of a width substantially equal to the distance between the radial wallslof said member, and means-carried by said rotary element for discharging a fluid upon said vanes to cause said rotary element to rotate. v v

2. In a flying machine a hollow disk-like member, having air intake and outlet openings, vanes on the circumferential wall of said member, a rotary element therein having a pair of arms projecting close to said vanes, said arms being of a width substantially equal to the distance between the radial walls of said member, and means carried by said rotary element for discharging said arms and having their outer endsadja- .cent' sald vanes, and] annular explosion chambers on said rotary element from whichsaid pipes lead. 1 4. In a flying machine,'a hollow disk-like member having openings in the top and bot-- tom walls thereof adjacent the sides there f, valves controlling said openings, means for "causing a fiowof-air downward into said member, and a gravity operated control means for said valves. 7

5. In a flying machine,a hollow disk-like member having openings in the top and bot tom. walls thereof adjacent the sides thereof, valves controlling said openings, means for means for said valves, adapted to cause the valves on' top and bottom sides to operate inversely in unison.

6, In a flying machine, a hollow disklike member having openings in the top and bottom walls thereof adjacent the sides thereof, valve controlling said openings, means for causing a flow of air downward into said member, and a gravity operated control means for said valves, adapted to cause the valves on top and bottom sides to operate inversely in unison, said control means comprising leversconnected to said valve, a weighted member, and cords leading from said weighted member to said levers. v

7. In a flying machine a hollow disk-like member, having air intake and outlet openings, vanes on the circumferential wall of said member, a rotary element therein having a pair of arms projecting close to said vanes, said arms being of a width substantially equal to the distance between the radial walls of said member, and means carried by said rotary element for discharging a fluid upon said vanes to cause said rotary element to rotate, and valves controlling the said openings in the top of the said disk-like member.

8. In a flying machine, a rotary element adapted to produce a downward flow of air, a fixed element, vanes on said fixed element, and means carried by said rotary element for discharging a fluid upon said vanes to cause said rotary element to rotate, a well leading downward to the centre of said rotary element, and a valve for closing said well, said valve comprising a pair of flaps, a pair of links connected \at one end to said flaps, a longitudinally movable screw to which the opposite ends of said links are connected, and a nut for moving said screw.

9. In a flying machine, a rotary element, a hollow disk-like member in which said element is mounted, a series of air compressors radiating from the centre of said rotary element and adapted to be operated by rotation thereof, a pair of annular explosion chambers on said rotary element, vanes on said disk-like member, conduits leading from said explosion chambers to points adj acent said vanes, and means for delivering the air from said compressors alternately to the respective explosion chambers.

10. In a flying machine; a rotary element,

the respective explosion chambers, including 7 a longitudinally movable sleeve valve, a rod connected thereto, and right-and left hand spiral elements with which said rod is adapted to be alternately engaged.

11. In a flying machine, a valve operat ing means comprising a pair of hinged arms, ropes connected thereto, fingers projecting therefrom, and other ropes connected to said fingers.

12. In a flying machine, a rotary element, a hollow disk-like member in which said element is mounted, a series of tandem-cylinder aircompresso-rs radiating from the centre of said rotary element and adapted to be operated by rotation thereof, a pair of annular explosion chambers on said rotary element, vanes on said disk-like member, conduits leading from said explosion chambers to points adjacent said vanes, and

means for delivering the air from said compre'ssors alternately to the respective explosion chambers.

13. In a flying machine, a hollow disklike member having openings in the top and bottom walls thereof adjacent the sides,

thereof, valves controlling said openingsjf a well leading downward into said disk-like member, an exhaust conduit leading rear- Ward from said disk-like member, and valves I in said well and exhaust conduit.

14. In a flying machine a hollow disk-like member having openings in the topand'bottom walls thereof adjacent the sides thereof, valves controlling said openings, a well leading downward into said disk-like memher, an exhaust conduit leading rearward from said disk-like member, .and valves in said well and exhaust conduit, and means for operating said valves inversely in unison.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

WILLIAM BROWN 

